Beam clamp for connecting foundation system to beam of manufactured home

ABSTRACT

Clamp  10  for connecting foundation system  50  to horizontal support beam  80  of a manufactured home includes a pair of members  20 ; each including a channel  24  for mounting members  20  opposite one another on bottom lateral flange  83  of beam  80 . Lower portions  30  of members  20  are connected by bolt  40  such that tightening bolt  40  tilts members  20  and binds channels  24  on flange  83 . Upper end  76  of foundation arm  70  is pivotally connected to bolt  40  between members  20 . Thus, tightening single bolt  40  attaches foundation system  50  to beam  80.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates in general to attaching foundation systemsto a beam of a manufactured home, and more particularly to a clamp thatclamps on the beam and is connected to the foundation system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Manufactured homes, mobile homes, or trailer coaches include longlongitudinal support beams underneath. Typically, when the home or coachis installed, a plurality of vertical piers or jacks are placed underthe beams to support them. Most piers or jacks require placement on arigid ground pad so as not to sink into the ground from the loading.Conventional piers do not provide resistance to lateral forces that maybe exerted on the coach such as by strong winds or earthquakes.

[0003] Consequently, conventional piers are being succeeded byfoundation systems that both support the beam and provide longitudinalstability. Many foundation systems are required for a singlemanufactured home.

[0004] Since these systems have to be installed in the field, it isdesirable that they be simple to install, preferably by a dingle person,not require complex tools, and not require any alterations to thepresent beams, such as by drilling, that could decrease the strength ofthe beams.

[0005] There has been a need for an improved connection means between afoundation system and a beam that provides both vertical support andlongitudinal stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention is a clamp for connecting a foundation system to ahorizontal support beam of a manufactured home. The clamp includes apair of members that each include a channel for mounting the membersopposite one another on the bottom lateral flange of the beam. Lowerportions of the members are connected by a bolt. Tightening the bolttilts the members and binds the channels on the flanges. The upper endof a foundation arm is pivotably connected to the bolt between themembers.

[0007] Thus, tightening a single bolt attaches the support system to thebeam.

[0008] The features and advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood when the detailed description thereof is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodimentof the clamp of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a reduced perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 1 astypically used connecting a foundation system to a support beam of amanufactured home.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view of the clamp of FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 is an end view of the clamp taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 12 is an explodedperspective view of a preferred embodiment of the clamp 10 of theinvention. FIG. 2 is a reduced perspective view of clamp 10 of FIG. 1 astypically used connecting a foundations system 50 to a support beam 80of a manufactured home. FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view of clamp10 taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

[0014] Foundation system 50 includes a ground support 52 and a pair ofrigid arms 70, each having an upper end 76 and a lower end 73. Upperends 76 and lower ends 73 include bores 77 (seen in FIG. 4) forreceiving fasteners for pivotable connection. Lower end 73 is pivotablyconnected to ground support 52. Ground support 52 could be any supportor anchor, such as a concrete foundation, for retaining lower ends 73 ofarms 70 in fixed position. Ground support 52, shown, is a ground pan 53having a top surface 54, a bottom 57, and anchoring means 56, such asinsertion perimeter 57, a perimeter downward extending wall. Ground pan53 is placed on the ground and insertion perimeter 57 is pressed intothe ground. The area of pan 53 prevents downward movement and insertionperimeter 57 prevents horizontal movement. Ground pan 52 is made ofstrong material such as of steel. Means, such as bracket 60, such asU-bracket 61, connected to ground pan 52, includes means, such as bolt64 through bores 77 in lower ends 73 pivotably connecting lower ends 73of arms 70 to ground support 52.

[0015] Support beam 80 has a vertical web 81 and a bottom end 82 havinga lateral flange 83 including a front flange 83F and a rear flange 83R.Each flange 83F, 83R has a top 84, a bottom 85, and a free end 86. Beam80 top 88 supports a manufactured home.

[0016] Clamp 10 includes a pair of flange mount members 20, such asfront member 20F and rear member 20R, and connecting means, such as anadjustable tension member, such as carriage bolt 40. Each flange mountmember 20F, 20R includes a top 22, a medial side 23 facing web 81, and alower portion 30. Medial side 23 includes a channel 24 adapted forreceiving a flange, 83F or 83R. Channel 24 includes a top surface 25 anda bottom surface 26. Lower portion 30 is lower than channel 24 and,therefore, below flange 83F, 83R when member 20 is mounted thereon.Lower end 30 includes bores 34 for receiving bolt 40. Preferably, atleast one of these bores 34 is adapted, such as by being square, toprevent the head of bolt 40 from turning. Nut 41 attaches to bolt 40.Alternatively, one bore 34 may be threaded. In the exemplary embodiment,members 20 are made of U-shaped steel.

[0017] Clamp 10 is attached to beam 80 by mounting channel 24 of frontmember 20F on front flange 83F and mounting channel 24 of rear member20R on rear flange 83R opposite front member 20F. Top end 76 of arm 70is placed between lower ends 30 of mounted members 20F, 20R and carriagebolt 40 is inserted through bores 34 and 77 to pivotably connect arm 70to clamp 10.

[0018] Bolt 40 is tightened and urges lower portions 30 of mountedmembers 20F, 20R together as seen in FIG. 4, such that at least one ofmounted channels 24 binds on its received flange 83F, 83R and holdsclamp 10 in place on beam 80.

[0019] Preferably, channels 24 have a depth such that mounted members20F, 2OR are sufficiently separated such that there is more than enoughroom for upper end 76 of arm 70 to fit therebetween and such thattightening bolt 40 pulls lower portions 30 together and tilts them so asto bind. Channels 24 have a height such that forcing lower portions 30outward or inward so as to tilt members 20, such as by tightening bolt40, binds channels 24 on flange 83 such that clamp 10 cannot move. Inthis manner, tightening a single bolt 40 clamps clamp 10 in a givenlocation on beam 80. Clamp 10 can be used to support beam 80 and preventbeam 80 from longitudinal movement.

[0020] From the foregoing description, it is seen that the clamp of theinvention provides an extremely simple, efficient, and reliable mannerof pivotably connecting a foundation system to a support beam of amanufactured home.

[0021] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form,composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein withoutsacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understoodthat all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not inany limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claimssuch modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A beam clamp for connecting a foundation system to a horizontal support beam; the foundation system including a ground support and a rigid arm having a bottom end connected to the ground support and a top end; the support beam having a bottom end having a lateral flange including a front flange and a rear flange; each flange having a top, a bottom, and a free end; said clamp including: a front member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel adapted for receiving the front flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than said channel; a rear member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel adapted for receiving the rear flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than said channel; and connecting means connecting said lower portions of said clamp members for urging them together such that at least one said channel binds on its received flange and holds said clamp in place on the beam.
 2. The clamp of claim 1 wherein: said connecting means comprises a single fastener.
 3. The clamp of claim 1 including: mounting means for mounting the top end of the rigid arm to said clamp.
 4. The clamp of claim 3 wherein: said mounting means and said connecting means comprises a single fastener.
 5. The clamp of claim 1 wherein: said connecting means comprises a bolt; said clamp adapted for mounting the top end of the rigid arm between said lower portions to said bolt.
 6. In combination: a horizontal support beam including: a bottom end including: a lateral flange including: a front flange including: a top; a bottom; and a free end; and a rear flange including: a top; a bottom; and a free end; a clamp including: a front member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel receiving said front flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than said lateral flange; a rear member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel receiving said rear flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than said lateral flange; and connecting means connecting said lower portions of said clamp members for urging them together such that at least one said channel binds on its received said flange and holds said clamp in place on said beam.
 7. The clamp of claim 6 wherein: said connecting means comprises a single fastener.
 8. The combination of claim 6 further including: a foundation system including: a ground support; and a rigid arm including: a lower end pivotally mounted to said ground support; and an upper end pivotally mounted to said clamp.
 9. The clamp of claim 8 wherein: said connecting means comprises a bolt; said clamp adapted for pivotally mounting the top end of the rigid arm between said lower portions to said bolt.
 10. The clamp of claim 8 wherein: said connecting means pivotally mounts the top end of said rigid arm to said clamp.
 11. The clamp of claim 9 wherein: said connecting means comprises a single fastener.
 12. A method of attaching a foundation system to a horizontal support beam; the foundation system including a ground support and a rigid arm having a bottom end connected to the ground support and a top end; the support beam having a bottom end having a lateral flange including a front flange and a rear flange; each flange having a top, a bottom, and a free end; said method comprising the steps of: providing a beam clamp including: a front member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel adapted for receiving the front flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than the channel; a rear member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel adapted for receiving the rear flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than the channel; and connecting means for connecting the lower portions of the clamp members; mounting the front member channel on the front flange; mounting the rear member channel on the rear flange; urging the lower portions of mounted clamp members together with the connecting means such that at least one of the channels binds on its received flange and holds the clamp in place on the beam; and connecting the top end of the rigid arm to the clamp.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the connecting means comprises a single fastener.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of connecting the top end of the rigid arm to the clamp includes mounting the top end of the rigid arm between the lower portions to the connecting means.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the connecting means comprises a single fastener.
 16. A method of attaching a foundation system to horizontal support beam; the foundation system including a ground support and a rigid arm having a bottom end pivotally connected to the ground support and a top end; the support beam having a bottom end having a lateral flange including a front flange and a rear flange; each flange having a top, a bottom, and a free end; said method comprising the steps of: providing a beam clamp including: a front member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel adapted for receiving the front flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than the channel; and a rear member including: a top; a medial side including: a channel adapted for receiving the rear flange including: a top surface; and a bottom surface; and a lower portion lower than the channel; and an adjustable tension member connecting the lower portions of the clamp members; mounting the front member channel on the front flange; mounting the rear member channel on the rear flange; urging the lower portions of mounted clamp members together with the adjustable tension member such that at least one of the channels binds on its received flange and holds the clamp in place on the beam; and pivotably connecting the top end of the rigid arm to the adjustable tension member.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein: the tension member comprises a single fastener.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of pivotably connecting the top end of the rigid arm includes mounting the top end of the rigid arm between the lower portions to the fastener. 